Another signature

By Brian Sanderson

Recently I purchased the above photograph of Bryan Stott signing a young boy's autograph book at Gloucester on the 16 July 1953. Looking in Wisden for that match it seems Bryan was twelfth man.

He had made his debut for Yorkshire the previous year against Scotland.

In this match Yorkshire lacked Hutton and Watson whilst Gloucester were missing Graveney ,Emmett and Milton.Yardley 's gamble of putting Gloucester in to bat was fully justified.

Mick Cowan, the left arm fast bowler doing most of the damage. His seven wickets for forty four was best figures at this stage. Although he only played his first championship match on the
9 May that year. Gloucester struggled to 72 all out.

Yorkshire opening pair was Frank Lowson and Harry Halliday who was in his final season. Yorkshire batted steadily to reach 306 for 6 declared with Yardley top scoring with 80 not out. Kilburn's report on second day stated the cricket was dull to the point of dreariness played beneath grey skies. There was also a cold and blustery wind, notably uncharitable on a ground of tents and backless benches round the boundary edge.

In the second innings again Cowan troubled Gloucester and only Lambert, Crapp and Young defied the attack for long. They were bowled out for 170. Wardle conceded no more than fifty eight runs in forty overs and Illingworth bowled twenty five overs for twenty six runs. Yorkshire won by
an innings and sixty four runs.

Wisden states that Yorkshire will want to forget the 1953 season -probably the worst in their history. Runners up to Surrey in 1952 , they finished twelfth. Bryan Stott had  only two first class innings in this season.